diff --git a/fabfile.py b/fabfile.py
index b5a72add308c..7929d636ce61 100644
--- a/fabfile.py
+++ b/fabfile.py
@@ -111,8 +111,9 @@ def snapshot(snapshot_name=None):
             FORUMS_DATABASE_NAME, mysql_snapshot))
 
         wiki_path = os.path.join(instance_path, 'wiki')
-        wiki_snapshot = 'wiki.tar.gz'
-        sudo('tar czf {} -C {} .'.format(wiki_snapshot, wiki_path))
+        wiki_snapshot = 'wiki.tar.bz2'
+        # Exclusions to save space & time per https://www.dokuwiki.org/faq:backup
+        sudo('tar --exclude=\'data/cache\' --exclude=\'data/index\' --exclude=\'data/locks\' --exclude=\'data/tmp\' -cjpf {} -C {} .'.format(wiki_snapshot, wiki_path))
 
     # Record snapshot name for chaining commands.
     env.snapshot_name = snapshot_name